Services

Plans to save lollipop patrols from the axe

LOLLIPOP men and women across Essex could be saved as new ideas have been raised over how to fund them.

Basildon county councillor Kerry Smith has put forward suggestions for the 12 Local Highways Panels across Essex to take over responsibility for funding school crossing patrols in a bid to stop 55 lollipop men and woman being axed.

Essex County Council is considering scrapping the crossing patrols to save money, but underfire highways boss Rodney Bass has touted Mr Smith’s idea as “reasonable and interesting”

and something he must “consider very carefully”.

Each highways panel receives up to £1million a year to fund projects to improve road safety in their district.

Mr Smith, Ukip county councillors for Westley Heights division, said: “I think it will cost around £41,000 to keep the crossing patrols in Basildon and as we get £1million for the highways panel I don’t see why we can’t step in and fund it. Our lollipop men and women need to be kept.

Whatever money County Hall is saving is not justifiable when it means putting children’s lives at risk.”

It is thought County Hall could save around £5,860 per crossing patrol per year.

It has suggested that local schools could foot the bill if they want their lollipop man or woman to stay on.

Mr Bass said: “We cannot confuse capital with revenue. The school crossing patrol service is largely funded out of revenue whereas the highways panels are largely capital.

“I too value the school crossing patrols and what I am seeking is a sensible balance in the funding responsibilities which should, in my view, also involve the schools’ budgets or some other form of sponsorship locally and not be borne wholly by the highways service.”

Comments

Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.

We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.

Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.
We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.Jack222

Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.

We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.

Score: -5

Discouraged
10:13am Mon 24 Mar 14

Maybe if the top Exec at Essex County Council didn't earn £300,000, and others £100,000 for two day weeks, there would be more money for services.

Maybe if the top Exec at Essex County Council didn't earn £300,000, and others £100,000 for two day weeks, there would be more money for services.Discouraged

Maybe if the top Exec at Essex County Council didn't earn £300,000, and others £100,000 for two day weeks, there would be more money for services.

Score: 6

Chris Flunk
10:21am Mon 24 Mar 14

Do we pay this man just to point at roads with a slightly incredulous look on his face?

Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it!

Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it!runwellian

Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it!

Score: 1

Speedysnail
12:15pm Mon 24 Mar 14

About time the crossing was repainted.

About time the crossing was repainted.Speedysnail

About time the crossing was repainted.

Score: 6

Kim Gandy
8:46pm Mon 24 Mar 14

Jack222 wrote…

Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.

We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.

Once again... and God, it is hard trying to get a message over on this website.

This is NOT nanny state. Lollipop patrols have been around since long before lefties started to try and rule every area of our lives.

It's not a perfect world as you know: you moan if parents drop kids off in cars, you moan if they walk them to school and clutter up the pavements so a good solution for all is a crossing patrol.

Have you seen the idiots on the roads lately? Overturning cars in built up areas, driving like lunatics - and one of them even brags about it on here.

And have you actually READ the solution to the problem above. At least there are SOME politicians who actually bother to try to find a solution that suits all.

Credit where it's due.

[quote][p][bold]Jack222[/bold] wrote:
Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.
We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.[/p][/quote]Once again... and God, it is hard trying to get a message over on this website.
This is NOT nanny state. Lollipop patrols have been around since long before lefties started to try and rule every area of our lives.
It's not a perfect world as you know: you moan if parents drop kids off in cars, you moan if they walk them to school and clutter up the pavements so a good solution for all is a crossing patrol.
Have you seen the idiots on the roads lately? Overturning cars in built up areas, driving like lunatics - and one of them even brags about it on here.
And have you actually READ the solution to the problem above. At least there are SOME politicians who actually bother to try to find a solution that suits all.
Credit where it's due.Kim Gandy

Jack222 wrote…

Lollipops are a waste of money. Parents should have responsibility for helping their children cross the road, not a paid outsider.

We need more parental responsibility and less nanny state waste of our taxes.

Once again... and God, it is hard trying to get a message over on this website.

This is NOT nanny state. Lollipop patrols have been around since long before lefties started to try and rule every area of our lives.

It's not a perfect world as you know: you moan if parents drop kids off in cars, you moan if they walk them to school and clutter up the pavements so a good solution for all is a crossing patrol.

Have you seen the idiots on the roads lately? Overturning cars in built up areas, driving like lunatics - and one of them even brags about it on here.

And have you actually READ the solution to the problem above. At least there are SOME politicians who actually bother to try to find a solution that suits all.

Credit where it's due.

Score: 1

Kim Gandy
8:57pm Mon 24 Mar 14

Chris Flunk wrote…

Do we pay this man just to point at roads with a slightly incredulous look on his face?

http://www.echo-news

.co.uk/news/10594639

.__3_3million_road_i

mprovements_branded_

a_waste_of_money/

Is that all you can say?

Politicians are often in the press, some just so they can get their face in front of you just in time for the elections but some are in the Echo because they are proactively doing what they are paid to do, which is sort out the things that people think are important. And on rare occasions, some are even visible to their residents all year round.

If they are called upon to support a certain scheme or deal with a particular issue then of course, the press will be interested, especially if a politician finds a solution to a problem nobody else has considered.

If you took more interest in the politicians who served us - and the ones who don't - or bothered to engage them at any time, you might find out what the politicians who actually DO earn their money, do for the people who voted them in.

Do you vote? Or have you stood for election? Or held public office?

I've done all three and it's no picnic because when you do get the bad ones, all the others are tarred with the same brush.

I have long held the view that politics should be taught in schools in an unbiased way - and that voting should be compulsory.

Too many people abdicate their responsibilities during elections and then complain when politicians get it wrong or worse still, take the money and do b****r all.

I wonder if people ever do check to see what their elected politicians are doing, keeping track of what they vote on, or what they are achieving.

Too many people vote - or not as the case may be - without actually finding out what their local councillors or even MPs are really doing. Or not.

But they take to a webpage or social networking to comment without actually ever knowing what the politicians are doing.

You can check their performance on the local government websites - and in the press.

Failing that, there's always the FoI if you want to see what they are spending your money on..

[quote][p][bold]Chris Flunk[/bold] wrote:
Do we pay this man just to point at roads with a slightly incredulous look on his face?
http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/10594639
.__3_3million_road_i
mprovements_branded_
a_waste_of_money/[/p][/quote]Is that all you can say?
Politicians are often in the press, some just so they can get their face in front of you just in time for the elections but some are in the Echo because they are proactively doing what they are paid to do, which is sort out the things that people think are important. And on rare occasions, some are even visible to their residents all year round.
If they are called upon to support a certain scheme or deal with a particular issue then of course, the press will be interested, especially if a politician finds a solution to a problem nobody else has considered.
If you took more interest in the politicians who served us - and the ones who don't - or bothered to engage them at any time, you might find out what the politicians who actually DO earn their money, do for the people who voted them in.
Do you vote? Or have you stood for election? Or held public office?
I've done all three and it's no picnic because when you do get the bad ones, all the others are tarred with the same brush.
I have long held the view that politics should be taught in schools in an unbiased way - and that voting should be compulsory.
Too many people abdicate their responsibilities during elections and then complain when politicians get it wrong or worse still, take the money and do b****r all.
I wonder if people ever do check to see what their elected politicians are doing, keeping track of what they vote on, or what they are achieving.
Too many people vote - or not as the case may be - without actually finding out what their local councillors or even MPs are really doing. Or not.
But they take to a webpage or social networking to comment without actually ever knowing what the politicians are doing.
You can check their performance on the local government websites - and in the press.
Failing that, there's always the FoI if you want to see what they are spending your money on..Kim Gandy

Chris Flunk wrote…

Do we pay this man just to point at roads with a slightly incredulous look on his face?

http://www.echo-news

.co.uk/news/10594639

.__3_3million_road_i

mprovements_branded_

a_waste_of_money/

Is that all you can say?

Politicians are often in the press, some just so they can get their face in front of you just in time for the elections but some are in the Echo because they are proactively doing what they are paid to do, which is sort out the things that people think are important. And on rare occasions, some are even visible to their residents all year round.

If they are called upon to support a certain scheme or deal with a particular issue then of course, the press will be interested, especially if a politician finds a solution to a problem nobody else has considered.

If you took more interest in the politicians who served us - and the ones who don't - or bothered to engage them at any time, you might find out what the politicians who actually DO earn their money, do for the people who voted them in.

Do you vote? Or have you stood for election? Or held public office?

I've done all three and it's no picnic because when you do get the bad ones, all the others are tarred with the same brush.

I have long held the view that politics should be taught in schools in an unbiased way - and that voting should be compulsory.

Too many people abdicate their responsibilities during elections and then complain when politicians get it wrong or worse still, take the money and do b****r all.

I wonder if people ever do check to see what their elected politicians are doing, keeping track of what they vote on, or what they are achieving.

Too many people vote - or not as the case may be - without actually finding out what their local councillors or even MPs are really doing. Or not.

But they take to a webpage or social networking to comment without actually ever knowing what the politicians are doing.

You can check their performance on the local government websites - and in the press.

Failing that, there's always the FoI if you want to see what they are spending your money on..

Score: -1

Kim Gandy
9:00pm Mon 24 Mar 14

runwellian wrote…

Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it!

I can assure you, that is not the case for every single mother.

I have driven my kids to school but have never once parked in anyone's driveway or obstructed anyone and have often parked a distance away.

And no, I did not live round the corner from the school.

I also taught both my kids how to cross the road but no amount of teaching kids common sense will prevent some scrote jumping lights or ignoring traffic signs and speed limites.

Unfortunately there are too many idiots on the road these days who are prepared to take chances with the lives of others.

They are less likely to try it on with a crossing patrol in front of a whole load of witnesses.

[quote][p][bold]runwellian[/bold] wrote:
Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it![/p][/quote]I can assure you, that is not the case for every single mother.
I have driven my kids to school but have never once parked in anyone's driveway or obstructed anyone and have often parked a distance away.
And no, I did not live round the corner from the school.
I also taught both my kids how to cross the road but no amount of teaching kids common sense will prevent some scrote jumping lights or ignoring traffic signs and speed limites.
Unfortunately there are too many idiots on the road these days who are prepared to take chances with the lives of others.
They are less likely to try it on with a crossing patrol in front of a whole load of witnesses.Kim Gandy

runwellian wrote…

Most of the traffic around schools belongs to mothers dropping off their kids, they don't care where they park or who they obstruct ... if the want this service because they are too lazy to educate their kids re road safety, then let them pay fro it!

I can assure you, that is not the case for every single mother.

I have driven my kids to school but have never once parked in anyone's driveway or obstructed anyone and have often parked a distance away.

And no, I did not live round the corner from the school.

I also taught both my kids how to cross the road but no amount of teaching kids common sense will prevent some scrote jumping lights or ignoring traffic signs and speed limites.

Unfortunately there are too many idiots on the road these days who are prepared to take chances with the lives of others.

They are less likely to try it on with a crossing patrol in front of a whole load of witnesses.

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